Danish emissions of CO2 (1972-92)
The first EC requirement as to the sulphur content of liquid fuels was promulgated as early as Directive 75/716. A more stringent Directive (93/12) has since been introduced, however. The limit value for the sulphur content of gas oil is set at 0.2% while that for diesel oil is 0.2% from 1 October 1994 and 0.05% from 1 October 1996. Rules on the sulphur content of fuel oil are currently being drawn up.
The EC has regulated the lead content of petrol through Directive 85/210. The basis of the EC rules is that the lead content must not exceed 0.15 g/l, that the benzene content must not exceed 5%, and that the octane rating must be at least 85.
The Danish rules on the sulphur content of light oil products correspond to those in the EC Directive. With regards to the sulphur content of fuel oil and coal, Denmark has set national limit values; these are 1.0% and 0.9%, respectively. The limit values do not apply to power stations, but instead the latter have to undertake flue gas abatement in accordance with the quota system discussed in Section 6.3.
The Danish rules on the lead content of petrol correspond to the EC rules. The decisive point, however, is that Denmark has had a tariff differential in favour of unleaded petrol since 1986 that now amounts to DKK 0.65 per litre.
The progress thereby achieved has been cheap, rapid and appreciable.
Danish emissions of CO2 (1972-92)
The rules on the sulphur content of fuels have alone reduced Danish emissions of SO2 by approx. 200,000 tonnes annually since the rules were first introduced in 1972, at which time emissions totalled approx. 500,000 tonnes annually. Other initiatives - i.e. flue gas abatement and increased use of natural gas - have reduced emissions by 100,000 such that total emissions now (1992) amount to approx. 200,000 tonnes.
Danish emissions of NOx (1972-92)
In the case of lead in petrol, the positive trend is primarily attributable to the financial incentive. It was not so great at the start, when motorists were unsure, but it really took off in the 1990s. By the end of 1993 unleaded petrol had overtaken 92% of the market. In 1994 the remaining leaded petrol was replaced by petrol containing less harmful additives, thereby finally resolving the problem of lead pollution from petrol.
